In Vitro fertilization can be divided into 5 basic steps:

 Back    Step 1

Stimulation of the eggs with drugs: Fertility medications are used to stimulate ovarian production and there is an attempt to obtain multiple eggs to increase the patient's chance of getting pregnant by fertilizing numerous eggs for embryo development. At this stage, the eggs developing in the ovaries are monitored with ultrasound and hormone testing and retrieved before they are released.

Back     Step 2

Retrieval of the eggs: The eggs are retrieved by inserting a special aspiration needle guided by ultrasound into the vagina. The patient is given light anesthesia. Once retrieved the eggs are placed in special receptacles in a laboratory environment. Special methods are used to fertilize the eggs with sperm taken that same day from the woman's husband.

 Back    Step 3

Fertilization of the eggs and embryo development: The eggs are fertilized in the laboratory with sperm using the microinjection method. Then the embryo is allowed to develop for a period of time, after which the highest grade embryos are chosen for placement in the mother's womb.

Back     Step 4

Transfer of the embryo to the mother's womb: The chosen embryos are transferred to the mother's womb with a special catheter, after which one must wait and see if they attach to the womb and pregnancy develops.

Back     Step 5

Luteal follow-up: In order to assist pregnancy development, the patient will be given medications containing progesterone after the embryo transfer. Ultrasound and hormone tests will be administered once a week. Whether or not pregnancy has occurred will be determined by testing for the bHCG hormone in the blood on the 12th day after the embryo transfer.